Canopy structure



Oct. 19, 1954 w. c. JAY NES CANOPY STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 5, 1950 W42 75/? C. J4 YNE'S (Ittorneg Patented Oct. 19, 1954 UNITED s'r'rs CANOPY STRUCTURE Application January 5, 1950, Serial No. 136,953

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a canopy structure that has various uses, such as car ports, sheds, lean-tos, etc.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simplified structure of the nature indicated, the components of which are preformed and prefabricated members that are readily assembled to provide a durable yet knock-down structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure, as indicated, that can be provided in knock-down kit form.

Another object of the invention is to provide connection means for a canopy structure whereby the roof thereof may be level or pitched, as desired.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a ioreshortened longitudinal sectional View of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view as taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an expanded perspective view showing the various components of the structure.

The canopy structure that is illustrated comprises, generally, a set of support members 5, each member comprising a base 6, a column 1 and a column gusset 8; and a roof 9 comprising a pair of longitudinally arranged eave struts. H), a transverse purlin ll extending between the cave struts and connected to each pair of op-- posed support members 5, and additional purlins I2 extending in a similar manner intermediate purlins l I and at the ends of the roof, the number of purlins I2 varying according to the length of the structure.

As above mentioned, the support members are arranged in pairs, one member on each side of the structure. For a free-standing structure, two pairs of members are the minimum, while more than two pairs may be used for substantially elongated structures.

The column 1 of each support member is formed of thin-gauge metal to have a G-shaped cross-section, the same thus being strong yet light in weight. A base 5 is welded to one end of each column to comprise a pedestal that is adapted to be secured, as by bolts, to a floor in the usual manner. The opposite upper end of each column is, in part, cut away to provide a generally angular tongue portion l3 over which the cave struts H] are fitted.

Each column gusset 8 comprises a substantially triangular plate l4 having its angular edge laterally bent to provide a stiffening flange [5, an angle piece it; butt-welded to said plate along its angular edge, the lateral leg of said angle piece extending opposite to flange I5, and a strip ll Welded to said leg and flange.

The gussets 8 are permanently afiixed to the inner sides [8 of column I by butt-Welding at it and continuously welding along the line 20 where plate It abuts face [8. In the present case, plate M is arranged in the plane of face 2! of the column so that the comparable face of said plate and that portion of face 2| that is part of tongue portion it may constitute a bearing face for one of the purlins ll. Also, the top edge 22 of angle piece It is so arranged that the same constitutes a. support for said purlin. Fig. 1 clearly shows this arrangement.

Each eave strut I0 is also formed of thingauge sheet metal and has a channel cross-sea tion in which one of the legs 23 is wider than the other and in which a flange 24 is bent from the edge of leg 23. Thus, each eave strut is strong to resist bending at two spaced points, if the structure has four support members 5, or at three or more spaced points, if commensurately more support members are used. Openings 25 are provided in the leg 23 of each eave strut. Each opening has the general form of tongue l3 and is adapted to receive the same from beneath. Accordingly, when assembled, leg 25 of the cave strut bears against the end of tongue l3 and leg 23 rests on edge 21 that is formed on the column when parts thereof are cut away to form said tongue. Each eave strut, in alignment with each of the openings 25, is provided with a gusset plate 28 that is Welded in place so as to be a lower extension of the web 29, the mentioned extension tongue I3 and the adjacent upper portion of the column bearing laterally against the face thus provided by gusset plate 28 and strut web 29.

pair on the other side to, thereby, impart a slight slope to the roof that facilitatesmoisture drainage. In order that the cave struts be not unduly strained to accommodate 'such roof slope, each eave strut is provided with horizontal elongated holes or slots 3|, and the-columns 'l-with1 vertical slots 32 for securing bolts 33 that fasten the eave struts and columns together. ,Aslope of approximately two inches can be given the roof and still be within the range of adjustment of slots 3| and 32.

.In some cases itmay-bedesired to. pitch the roof from side to side; as suggestedbythe 'dotdash lines inFig. 2. To this endpurlins H, at each end thereof, areeachprovided with. a suitable number of horizontal slots; 34, and the column and gusset thereof witha like number of vertical slots-35, for bolts 36 thatconnectsaid purlins to the columns. To better take such stresses as theremaybe on thebolts that extend through gusset 8, the same is provided with a filler plate 31 and the purlins |2,,with a similar plate 38, that are welded in ;place substantially as shown.

Gussetplates 28 strongly brace the structure against longitudinal sway, while gussets. 8 serve the-same purpose for transverse sway. .Inuthe latter case, gussets 8, in supporting the roof, exert considerable force against faces 18 of the columns. Accordingly, the latter are reinforced at these points of pressure by transversefiller plates 39 fitted and weldedinto. the insides of the columns.

Theknock-down structure above described, therefore, comprises the following complement of elements: a set of support members two eave struts [0, a purlin for. each pair of support members, a set of intermediate purlins I2, nuts and bolts to fasten the parts, and a roof covering 30. For canopy structures, side trim members 40 may be applied .to'the outer faces of the eave struts and the end purlins "l2. It is evident also, that the sides and ends of the structure may be enclosed, as desi-red,bysheathing or the. like.

Multiplesof the described structure maybe erected with only slight modification, such as welding another gusset, similar to gusset'8,'on the opposite face'tll of the columns on-one-side and ,utilizingsaidgussets to support the ends of purlins that are arranged as. extensions of purlins H and I2. When used as.a'lean-to, 'the columns on one side are omitted, since the purlins may be anchored to the structure against which it is erected.

While the invention that has been; illustrated and described is now regarded as the preferred embodiment, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated =anddescribed'ybut to coveralhmodifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

i Having thus described the invention, what is claimed-and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Ina canopy structure, a column having oppositely-disposed sides and a face connecting .15.

said sides, atongue extending from the upper end of said column and being of smaller crosssection than the: column to define a support edge adjacent the base of the tongue, a generally horizontal longitudinal, channel member having a web and flanges at the sides thereof disposed on the-column with its flanges vertically spaced, to provide upperand lower flanges, said lower flange having an opening therein:said ltongue extending throu'ghsaid opening and having abutting engagement with said upperfflange; the mentioned support edge having abutting engage- 'mentwi'thsaid lower flange: adjacent the opening therein, a gusset secured to a; side :of the column in alignment with the face of the column and having a; face portionextending-above thesupport edge, saidgusset ,having. an z-outer edge extending angularly fromathe column, a: laterally dire'cted ilange non 'said slatter edge terminating at its upper end in substantially "horizontal alignment withfithe suport edgeofzthe column and below the upper edge of the gussetxzp-late, an elongated substantially horizontal zmember having one==end supported: by the: lower ."fiange of-the ehannelz-member-and by said :upperyend of the zgusset fiangexand E'disposed. against the mentioned column face: and: gusset, andzrmeans to adjustablyrfastenthe tonguevof-the column to the. channel-member. and the: elongated :memher to said tongue;and;gusset,-andv means to fasten 'the elongated z-member ate the 1 channel member.

2. In a' canopy: structure. according; to 'claim: 1: the cross-sectional: form of said tongue :of the column. being generallyangular, andithe opening into which. said tongue, extends being shaped according to the cross-sectional 'shape-"of' the tongue.

References Cited in.the file. of this .patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,288,010 Isaac Dec. '17, 1918 1,571,350 Washburn Feb. 2,11926 1,662,729 '=Wait Mar. 13,1928

"2,301,306 lVIcDonald Nov. 10,1942

OTHER REFERENCES ifliigure 26, page "21 0f the Italian pamphlet Le'Tettoie"Rurali, published 1935-by Associazione Nazionale' Fascista. 

